QUARRY EXPLOSION

DEATHS OF TWO WORKERS EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST (0.C.) HAMILTON, "Wednesday The inquest into the death of Charles Itusscll, aged 61, of Khyber Pass Road, Auckland, and Percy Henriksen, aged 50, of Manukau Road, Parnell, foremen quarrymen employed by the Raglan County Council, who were killed in a quarry accident at Okete on January 28, was concluded before Mr. W. R. Moore, J.P., coroner, at Haglan. Mr. Johnson appeared for the RagInn County Council, and" Mr. Clayton Greene for Mrs. Henriksen. widow of one of the deceased. Evidence was given that three charges of gelignite totalling 13501b. had been placed iri different positions in a tunnel driven in a new quarry opened by the council at Okete. The whole of the charges were to have been exploded together several days after the date of "the accident. The deceased, who were expert quarrymen of many years' experience, were employed in testing the electrical circuits leading to the charges at the time of the premature explosion. They were alone at the time, which was a few minutes before other quarrymen were due to start.

E. G. Carr, assistant county engineer, said lie believed that only one charge of 4001b. was accidentally exploded.

The coroner returned a verdict that death was due to an accidental quarry explosion, and that there was insufficient evidence to show the cause of the explosion.

FERTILISER NEEDS SUPPLIES AND TRANSPORT (S.R.) WELLINGTON. Wednesday An inquiry as to what steps were being taken by the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. B, Roberts, to provide an increased fertiliser ration for this year was made by Mr. A. J. Murdoch (Opposition—Mnrsden) in notice of a question given in the House of Representatives to-day. .Mr. Murdoch said that phosphates were now obtainable from Florida and North Africa and it was imperative that increased quantities be made available if primary production was to be maintained. Jn a further question put by Mr. Murdoch in association with Mr. A. S. Sutherland (Opposition—Hauraki) the Minister of Railways, the Hon. R. Semple. was asked if he would make immediate arrangements for the supply of rolling stock to meet all fertiliser demands" in view of the very urgent necessity for the early application of fertiliser to the farm lands of North Auckland and Waikato districts. 800 TONS OF HONEY SOUTH AUCKLAND CROP (0.C.) HAMILTON, Wednesday Good crops of honey have been secured by apiarists throughout the Waikato, King Country and Bay of Plenty this season, the yield being above the average, and much better than the production for several seasons. It is estimated that SOO tons have been produced in the area. The quality of the honey is exceptionally good.